Diontae Johnson calls out refs after Steelers loss to Jaguars: 'They wanted them to win'

Diontae Johnson didn’t bite his tongue on Sunday. After the Pittsburgh Steelers fell 20-10 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Johnson furiously ranted about the referees.

“They cost us the game,” Johnson said. “They wanted them to win, they was calling, everything was in their favor. They were getting every little call. But it is what it is.”

The referees had multiple questionable calls in the game, including a missed pass interference and arguable roughing the passer penalty. Nonetheless, the referees didn’t stop Johnson from boasting an impressive performance. In the loss, Johnson tallied eight receptions and 85 yards.

However, he wanted a win, and he believed the referees took a victory from under the Steelers’ feet.

“They must have got paid good today, or something, but that field goal, that hurt us. Coming into the half, we needed that,” Johnson said. “That field goal hurt us. They was calling some stupid stuff. They should get fined for calling that, for making worse, terrible calls, stuff like that. That’s how pissed I am.”

With the loss, the Steelers move to 4-3. Johnson will have to wait to take his frustrations out on the field until next week when Pittsburgh will square off against the Tennessee Titans.

Diontae Johnson defends OC Matt Canada

Although Johnson wasn’t afraid to criticize the referees, he will always defend those on his team. During an appearance on “The Arthur Moats Experience” last week, Johnson came to the defense of his offensive coordinator, Matt Canada. While you may not like the calls Canada is making, you have to respect them, Johnson said. 

“People might not agree with his play-calling, but you ain’t got no choice. He’s calling plays,” Johnson said, via Steeler Nation. “He’s the boss on offense. We’ve got to do what he says and we ain’t got no choice. You don’t got to like them, but you got to respect them. That’s how I go. I respect them, not like them, too.”

The much-maligned Steelers’ offense ranks as the second-worst unit in the league, and is averaging just 17.2 points per game through six games. To be fair to Canada, Johnson, Pittsburgh’s leading receiver each of the last three seasons, has only been active for two games. The 27-year-old missed four games with a hamstring injury, before returning for the 24-17 Week 7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. 

Johnson said he reminds Canada that he hasn’t had the Steelers’ best weapons at his disposal for majority of the season. 

“I’m just saying little stuff like that to him to just keep his spirits up so he don’t just be down,” Johnson said. “It sucks to hear [the chants] because it’s not like he’s intentionally trying to f*** up.”

He added: “I try to take his mind off like that. ‘Bro, I’m on your side at the end of the day. Don’t listen to whatever they’re saying out there. They’re gonna say what they’re gonna say, but we’re gonna make you look good.’”

On3’s Nick Geddes also contributed to this article.